FER, a Croatian University of Technology, Suffers Ransomware Attack

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (FER) at the University of Zagreb, Croatia, has been targeted by the ransomware group Lockbit2. The attack was announced on the group's dark web leak site, and the victim's website is FER operates in the Education sector and is known for its research and development in various fields, including artificial intelligence and digital transformation of education.

The size of FER is significant, with over 25,000 students enrolled in various programs. The university is renowned for its commitment to excellence, with a focus on providing quality education and fostering innovation. However, this focus on innovation and technology may have made FER a prime target for ransomware attacks, as they often exploit vulnerabilities in digital systems.

The ransomware attack on FER is part of a larger trend, with thousands of school websites being affected by ransomware attacks in the past. These attacks can cause significant disruption to educational institutions, affecting communication with students, applicants, and the public. In the case of FER, the attack has not yet been confirmed to have compromised any data, but the impact on the university's operations and reputation is still significant.

In response to such attacks, it is crucial for educational institutions to have robust cybersecurity measures in place, including regular updates and patches, employee training, and incident response plans. Additionally, collaboration with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement can help mitigate the impact of these attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Sources:

• Fakultet elektrotehnike i računarstva
• Feroot Security Education Center
• Responding to Ransomware Attacks - Protecting Student Privacy
• Thousands of School Websites Go Offline Due to Ransomware Attack
• Ransomware attack affects the websites of 5,000 schools - CNN